Mrs Gina Rinehart | Biography

Gina Rinehart is a leading figure in the mining and agricultural industries in Australia. She is also a leading figure in Australias Olympics efforts, (being patron of 4 teams and the largest single non-government contributor to the Olympic effort in Australia’s history ), and has received the rare honour of an order of merit from the Australian Olympic organisation for her contribution.

She was born in Perth on February 9th, 1954 and spent her childhood between the Pilbara, in north-west Australia, where she lived with her parents on large sheep and cattle properties in the remote and rugged region, then from 8 years old attending boarding school at St. Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls in Perth.

Since becoming Executive Chairman of the Hancock Prospecting Group in 1992, Mrs Rinehart has transformed the Group from one that was in difficulties and financially troubled to a very successful industry-leading innovator, providing employment to many across the outback of Australia. . Under Mrs Rinehart’s leadership, the Hancock Group has diversified from prospecting to become a miner, and further investing in iron ore, copper, potash, gold, coal, cattle, dairy and property. The group has grown under her leadership to become one of the most successful private mining companies in the world, and become the most successful private company in Australia’s history.

Mrs Rinehart’s achievements include the development of the mega Roy Hill project, the exploration and then development of four major iron ore mines at Hope Downs, (the latter more recently with joint-venture partner Rio Tinto Iron Ore, ) and the considerable expansion of Hancock’s agricultural business, now the second-largest producer of cattle in Australia and one of Australia’s largest landowners.

At Hope Downs, Mrs Rinehart took the company’s tenements from a status of temporary titles – with the area having little more than a few drill holes – to State agreement and bankable feasibility study status, to then partner with Rio Tinto, and construction of four major mines, with more in the pipeline. This involved an enormous approval process and extensive high-risk expenditure both for exploration and studies, then raising money to develop these major mines and related facilities. It being noted, that unlike most major mines, which use shareholders money, and hence its directors don’t bear the risk personally, this was done by Mrs Rinehart via her private family company of which she owns directly more than 76 per cent.

Mrs Rinehart’s flagship achievement is the exploration, financing, construction and operation of the $US10 billion Roy Hill project – the debt raised was the largest ever for a mainly greenfield land-based mining and infrastructure project anywhere in the world. This debt-funding package was secured from 19 of the largest banks in the world and five Export Credit Agencies. Roy Hill uses some of the largest mining equipment in the world, another world first. Her instigation of pink trucks, pink trains, the largest whims plant in Australia also pink and more across Roy Hill sites, in support of those suffering breast cancer, and in support of women in the mines, is also a world first and encouraged several ship owners to paint their ships pink also, another first.

Mrs Rinehart’s vision to grow and value-add Australian food has been the basis for significant investments, including the acquisition of the iconic S. Kidman and Co pastoral company. Today, the Hancock Group pastoral properties stretch across most states in Australia, plus the Northern Territory.

She is also the founder of Australians for Northern Development and Economic Vision (ANDEV), has authored two books, and arranged and funded a third one, (for agriculture), founded Australia’s Annual National Mining and Related Industries Day and National Agriculture and Related Industries Day, and is Patron of several organisations, and a governor of AmCham (Australia).

A philanthropic champion of worthwhile causes, Mrs Rinehart and the Hancock Group’s charitable objectives support a number of medical, sporting, educational, health and community organisations. She serves as Patron of Australia’s internationally renowned Olympic swimming, rowing, volleyball and synchronised swimming teams, whose Olympians provide important role models for Australians.

Mrs Rinehart’s business success, industry leadership and contribution to Australia, has been recognised in her own country and internationally. She was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Bond University, prestigious business awards from CEO Magazine’s Chairman of the Year in 2014 and 2017, and their lifetime achievement award also, much-coveted mining awards from diggers and dealers, including in 2020 achieving their trifecta, prestigious international awards, such as from S & P Global Platts and Mines and Money, etc, which are in addition to numerous lifetime achievement and other awards. As an industry leader and huge contributor to Australia, she provides a role model for other women, and as many note is an Australian patriot, who provides inspiration to many.

In addition to these awards referred to below, she has received more awards for Roy Hill, where she is Executive Chairman, and Atlas, a subsidiary of Hancock Prospecting where she is Executive Chairman, and Bannister Downs, a joint venture company which has won hundreds of awards for its fine dairy produce, (including, nations best cream).

  • 2006 | Diggers and Dealers ‘Deal of the Year’ (for Hope Downs).
  • 2009 | Australian Export Heroes Award (in recognition of an extraordinary contribution to the growth and development of Australian exports).
  • 2009 | Telstra – West Australian Commonwealth Bank Business Owner Award.
  • 2009 | Telstra West Australian Business Woman of the Year.
  • 2009 | Telstra Australian Commonwealth Business Woman of the Year (National).
  • 2009 | Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year (National).
  • 2011 | 100 Year Centenary, Hall of Fame (WA).
  • 2011 | Global Leadership Award (the ‘Masterclass CEO of the Year’).
  • 2011 | Government Media Mining Awards for Outstanding Leadership of a Mining Company.
  • 2012 | Diggers and Dealers ‘Deal of the Year’ Award for the Roy Hill Project. (This is the first time in Digger and Dealer’s history that this award has been presented to a Chairman twice).
  • 2012 | McMillan Woods Global Awards 2012 – Visionary CEO of the Year.
  • 2012 | Trailblazer of Australia – for promoting Australia internationally. (This is the first time the Trailblazer Award has been awarded to an individual rather than a company).
  • 2013 | Free Enterprise Leader Award 2013 (in recognition of Mrs Rinehart’s vision for Australia and her commitment to Australia’s future).
  • 2013 | Honorary Doctorate at Bond University
  • 2014 | Lifetime Achievement Award – The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport.
  • 2014 | The BrandLaureate Woman of the Year Brand ICON Leadership Award – Asia Pacific Brands Foundation.
  • 2014 | Order of Merit by the Australian Olympic Committee (interalia).
  • 2014 | Chairman of the Year Award – CEO Magazine.
  • 2014 | Best Company for Leadership, Mining Australia “Hancock Prospecting” – IAIR Awards.
  • 2015 | McMillan Woods Global Awards – Philanthropist of the Year Award.
  • 2015 | Outstanding Women Leadership Achievement Award – presented by the World Women Leadership Congress and Awards Mumbai February
  • 2015 | IJ Global Asia Award – Roy Hill Mining and Metals Deal of the Year for the Asia Pacific region
  • 2015 | Mines & Money “Lifetime Achiever’s Award” Hong Kong
  • 2015 | Australian Mining Prospect Award – Contribution to Mining
  • 2015 | IMARC Inaugural 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award
  • 2015 | Sydney Mining Club, Australian Miner of the Decade
  • 2016 | Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia (CME) Women in Resources Lifetime Achievement Award
  • 2016 | Momentum Most Inspiring Woman of the Year Award
  • 2016 | Global Lifetime Brand Icon Award in Minerals & Exploration
  • 2016 | Honorary Life Membership of the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA)
  • 2016 | Federation Star Award from the International Women’s Federation of Commerce and Industry (IWFCI)
  • 2017 | Lifetime Achievement Award from S&P Global Platts
  • 2017 | Excellence in Mining award at the Women in Industry Conference and Awards.
  • 2017 | Women Leaders of the Decade in Innovation & Enterprise Award from the Women Economic Forum
  • 2017 | Contribution to Mining, Australian Mining Prospect Awards
  • 2017 | Chairperson of the Year Award, CEO Magazine’s Executive of the Year Awards
  • 2018 | The Angkor Award for leadership in female empowerment from the Cambodian Children’s Fund
  • 2018 | 500 Club State Shapers Award for her role in shaping the state of Western Australia
  • 2018 | American Chamber of Commerce in Australia (AmCham) – Gold Trophy
  • 2018 | EY’s Western Region Champion of Entrepreneurship
  • 2018 | Mines and Money special award for Outstanding Achievement in the mining and resources sector
  • 2019 | Hancock Prospecting – Raw Materials & Mining Industry Leadership Award
  • 2019 | Hancock Prospecting – Agriculture, Food and Beverage Austcham Business Award
  • 2019 | Roy Hill – Digger & Dealers Digger of the Year Award
  • 2019 | McMillan Woods Global CSR Visionary Leader
  • 2019 | Global Business Leadership Awards 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award
  • 2019 | CEO Magazine inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award
  • 2019 | CEO Magazine Resources Executive of the Year Award
  • 2019 | Swimming Australia Lifetime Contribution Award
  • 2019 | Roy Hill wins award at the 2019 Diggers and Dealers Mining Forum
  • 2020 | Roy Hill wins the Industry Leadership Award at Platts Global Metals Awards 2020
  • 2020 | Mrs Rinehart wins the GJ Stokes Memorial Award at Kalgoorlie-Boulder’s Diggers & Dealers Mining Forum
  • 2020 | Mrs Gina Rinehart wins Diggers and Dealers Lifetime Achievement Award, the second only person & first female to win the trifecta of awards at Diggers & Dealers.
  • 2020 | Mrs Rinehart inducted into the Australian Prospectors & Miners Hall of Fame in recognition of her contribution to the State’s resources sector – installed under the category of Entrepreneurs and Promoters, for her achievements in leading the development of Hancock Prospecting’s Hope Downs and Roy Hill iron ore mines
  • 2021 | Queensland Community Foundation Board of Governors Award for Outstanding Achievement
  • 2022 | Mrs Rinehart appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to the mining sector, to the community through philanthropic initiatives, and to sport as a patron
  • 2022 | Mrs Rinehart wins Australian Mining Prospect Awards Lifetime Achievement Award 2021
  • 2022 | Roy Hill wins Australian Mining Prospect Awards Hard Rock Mine of the Year Award and Australian Mine of the Year Award 2021
  • 2022 | Atlas Iron wins Australian Mining Prospect Awards Indigenous and Community Engagement Award
  • 2022 | Atlas Iron wins Australian Mining Prospect Awards Project Lead of the Year Award
  • 2022 | Roy Hill wins Australian Mining Prospect Awards Mine Project Success of The Year 2022
  • 2022 | Executive Chairman Gina Rinehart wins AIM WA Pinnacle Awards WA Business Leader of the Year 2022
  • 2023 | Western Australian of the Year
  • 2023 | Roy Hill wins Australian Mine of the Year Award 2023
  • 2023 | Australian Financial Review’s Business Person of the Year

Beyond the Great Divide

Addictive waves of magic moments daily are conceived
by gifts of nature, way out West, where myth can be believed.
Those fleeting moments charm the minds of all who venture out
beyond the lines of mountain ridge, to flirt with flood and drought.

This land of chance and solitude where Brolgas prance and preen,
still tells a story, cast in stone, of what has always been:
where summer rains and sodden plains define the earthen crust,
and torrid breezes twist and twirl in clouds of floating dust.

A grazier’s wife and children form the heart of our frontier:
they plug the gaps and patch the wounds when futures are unclear.
They take a shack and shape a home with fires burning bright:
they turn aside the ghastly odds that distant stations fight.

The families and followers within this group of souls
all share the worth, and contemplate, the peace of earnest goals
contrived from living, far away, beneath a cosmic sky
so clear and blue it truly makes the winds and water sigh.

The creaking windmill softly calls across the flats at noon
and runs the precious water down to fill the house lagoon.
An old Blue Heeler rests in shade with one eye still on guard
while rows of crows adorn the rail around the homestead yard.

The Boss-man prods his hardy grey to clear a sunken bridge:
a whip-crack sites his eldest son as working down a ridge.
The pair have mustered higher ground since dawn first brought the light:
the sun, now past its zenith, means a swag and stars that night.

Astride an agile, sturdy steed with miles of ground to roam,
the young man savours living rough and camping far from home.
The older, wiser father knows how keen his heir would be
to breed fine beef on Grandad’s land with offspring by his knee.

Australian people have the right to choose where they will dwell.
Some vote for streets of urban sprawl, or toxic city smell:
the hearty opt for native blooms and lucerne baled on high,
though cost and errors do combine where poor decisions lie.

Enduring, well-developed skills of rustic farming traits
will not survive, to stand alone, without support from States.
Australia’s food supply depends on effort far and wide
to steer the young, and young at heart, beyond the Great Divide.

Ross Rolley

Back to top